An Epic Journey: 10/24 – 11/6 WRD

~ Chocolaterunsjudy

A few stats:

  • 10 Days
  • Driving through 5 states
  • Driving roughly 1000 miles to my race
  • Staying in 5 different places
  • Meeting up with family
  • Meeting up with & hiking with Debbie @ Debruns
  • Chasing the sunrise & sunsets for photos
  • 1 National Park
  • 1 National Historical Park
  • Oh Yeah, my 2nd trail half — my 20th state and my 23rd half
bwrd

I’m joining Kim @ Kimrunsonthefly and Deborah @ Confessionsofamotherrunner — and don’t worry, I’m not going to run through 2 weeks of stuff: I’ll just touch on some of the highlights. Needless to say, there was walking, hiking, and running, oh my! And Yoga and Pilates . . .

Running Update

Ran into someone wearing Skirt Sports — not an Ambassador, but a friend of Erika Howder. Small world. She took this photo during the race. No idea why my arms are going one direction and my legs are going a different direction. . .

I tapered 2 weeks before my race, ran one shorter progressive run the week of the race, and then I ran my second trail half 10/29, which went reasonably well and the weather was nearly perfect — thank you, weather Gods (just a few days later it poured buckets).

But I finished. I wasn’t even last — for a while I really thought I might be! And yes, I was tired!
Jefferson Rock. A very short but somewhat steep hike.

Hiking Update

Harper’s Ferry National Historical Park
This was basically on the way to VA — so stopping here got us a new state (WV). We didn’t have a whole lot of time here, but I really enjoyed the time we did have and would like to go back someday.

Not long before setting out on the AT. For maybe a mile, LOL! Through hikers are nuts!

I also got to hike a tiny bit on the AT (Appalachian Trail) which runs through Harper’s Ferry. This is also where we bought the National Park Lifetime Senior Pass (or rather Mr. Judy did, you have to be 62). We did the short hike to Jefferson Rock.

Thanks again, Debbie!

Shenandoah National Park

SNP was a bucket list item for me & it did not disappoint. We barely scratched the surface. I hope to go back some day.
  • We did the short hike up to Black Rock our first night here to catch the sunset
  • After a a much needed rest day (it poured almost the whole day), we met up with Debbie so she and I could hike Dark Hollow Falls. Debbie was a real trooper, after having an app send her the wrong way and driving way longer than she anticipated. She even sent me the photo of the park sign!
  • I actually draggedwent out with Mr. Judy again that night to catch the sunset. We stopped at Stony Man Overlook, Jewells Hollow Gap, and South River Overlook. There was a tiny bit of hiking at Stony Man Overlook — looking for the trail that happened to be at the lodge where we ate dinner later — again, with a very short portion of it along the AT.
  • I was going to go out the next morning to chase the Golden Hour (the time after the sunrise, because I wasn’t really getting out early enough to catch the sunrise — or was I?), but Mr. Judy got up because he was concerned about me going out by myself. I mistakenly directed us south instead of north to the overlook I’d picked out, but it’s hard to go wrong in SNP and we stopped at Bacon Hollow Gap, Loft Mountain Overlook, ending with a short hike at Frazier Discovery Trail.
  • No hiking on our final day, but as we drove out of the park we stopped at Spitlier Overlook and the Tunnel Overlook to take n the views.
Although we didn’t explore PA this time, we did stay one night at a very charming AirBnB in Chambersburg, PA.

Favorites of the week
I chuckled to myself when several people congratulated me on finally getting away to Thacher Park on my last WRD a couple of weeks ago. That was just a day trip — a warm up, so to speak. I try not to advertise when we’re going to be away here on the blog (not much, anyway). One reason I never really came out and said I was training for a particular half.

We also stayed one night with Mr. Judy’s cousin and her family in VA. It had been 8 years since we’d seen them, so it was fun to catch up with them.

Lastly another reason for this trip was to explore more areas we are thinking of retiring to. I really loved this area of VA, so we may be back at some point. I thought we’d explore PA more, but it didn’t happen — we just drove through. We have been to PA over the years a few times, but visiting and an eye to living somewhere are very different things.

I had plans to meet up with Laurie (remember Meditations in Motion) — the second time we had plans to meet up! — but alas she got sick (pretty much her whole family had gotten sick) so we ended up not meeting. Again (the last time it was due to a canceled race during the Pandemic).

There are more photos on Facebook (here if you don’t follow me already) — in fact, there will be ongoing photos because . . . 10 day vacation.

ICYMI: In November we’re practicing gratitude, specifically body love, and we’re starting at our feet — flow with me here,

Coming up on Tuesday: Maybe I’ll get around to wrapping up October!

29 thoughts on “An Epic Journey: 10/24 – 11/6 WRD”

  1. Sounds like a very nice vacation.
    Why is there no one else in your racing pic? Anyway congrats on state #20. Glad the race went so well (or that you went not last although that’s ok too unless it’s a goal.)

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      1. That’s why I have to do big races. I can’t maintain a fast pace when I’m alone. I need a crowd. Lol.

        So kudos to you for still having a good race.

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  3. I absolutely love that photo of you during the half! I would get that one framed.
    Sounds like an amazing vacation. So you’re thinking of retiring to VA?
    i need to check out your yoga flow- my feet definitely need some love.

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      1. I’m not unbiased, but Virginia is a beautiful state — especially the Shenandoah area and this time of year! We did a Fondo ride around there last year. I’m so glad you got to meet up with Debbie. Let me know if you come back this way.

        Congrats on the Half! How cool to meet someone who knows Erika — We’re all one big running family. 😉

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      2. LOL yes on the running family. Well some of that is Skirt Sports. I’ve had surprise & planned meetups with runners wearing Skirt Sports for years!

        Unfortunately the long drive means a long vacation & that’s kinda dicey. This one almost didn’t happen — not just my mom, there’s Bandit, too. But we do want to get back to the area. We’re avoiding the DC area though. For obvious reasons! Which is kind of too bad, one of my HS besties lives in Gaithersburg. Actually two but the other one isn’t on Social Media.

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  4. Well done, that’s so many halfs and so many states!! I’m away on holiday, too (shhhh, don’t tell!) (well, everyone on Strava knows as I can’t disconnect my accounts somehow) and did a lovely sunrise run this morning. Hope the rest of your hols go really well.

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    1. Hooray for a sunrise run! Not that I’ve done that for years. We’re back home now. Have a great holiday! Sadly I doubt I’ll be finishing my quest to run 50 states. I haven’t given up, but 30 more states . . . well, we’ll see.

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  5. That part of VA is really pretty and I don’t make it out there too often. I am not a good car tripper. That is a lot of miles to drive! So glad you had such amazing weather too. Congrats on your half. You look really happy running

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    1. Thanks Deborah! We both hate driving, unfortunately, but we survived. I really needed another rest day (I had one) before my race but oh well. I was not looking so happy by the end of the race . . .

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  6. Congrats on completing a race in your 20th state! Too bad a vacation day was lost due to rain, but your body probably appreciated the rest. I’m so glad we were able to meet up and hike together, even if Waze tried to sabotage my trip. 😉

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  8. What nice photos! I would love that trail race–it’s nice that it was small and not crowded. As you know, I prefer to run by myself. I’m sure you enjoyed it! Your trip looks great! My sister and I have been hitting a few of the NPs too and I have yet to go to any in the eastern half of the country. We do have one in Indiana, so maybe I’ll take a day trip down there.

    Looking forward to more photos!

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    1. There are actually not too many NPs on the east coast. Which to me seems weird. We’ve been to 15 — there are so many more! We started before we were married.

      I doubt you’d be running by yourself — you know I’m much slower than you. But less than 200 people in the half. I think the 10k was the most popular!

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  9. Woohoo! What an awesome vacation/racecation/adventure! Congrats on knocking off another state on your half marathon list.

    Love the photos that you shared and so nice that you were all to meet up with Deb!

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  12. So glad you did your Half! I know how much it meant to you and that there were times you thought it may not happen! Love how bright and beautiful your outfit is especially against that grey sky.

    I’ve said it before but I loved that you were able to meet up with Debbie and I can see why SNP was a bucket list item for you – that view in the photo with your boots is spectacular. I hope you’re able to go back one day.

    You know, I often forget I huge the US and how many miles you can travel especially when visiting different states!

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